Game



J. S'. POTTER Feb, 24, 1925.

GAME

2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed oct. 4. 1923 W GNowvlcl mtbom Amm.

Rome

STAR

J. S. POTTER Feb. 24, 1925.

GAME

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 4, 1925 'P0 77g mvENToR Patented Feb. 24, 1925.

UuNr-rrfo STA rss TEN T F FIC E aonn's. rofrrn'aor Anmson, KENTUCKY.

GAME.

Applcatonfled ctober 4, i923; VSerial No. 6G6,569.

dison, in ftlio county of Breckenridge and State ef Kentucky, have invented new and useful Improvements in Games, of which the following isa specification.

4This linvention contemplates the provision of a Vgaine apparatus, Vembodying a playing surface or vboard provided with a .plurality o'f routes, allof which are connected with a-nal station known asteiminal, and which is reached by fllowing a particular route with ,gaine pieces, the latter lbeing moved along predetermined lines and `predetermined distances by 'the value given to cards ot a deck, and i-n conformity with certain rules which not only affords considerable interest and pleasure to the participants, but which is particularly advantageous in the deve'lopiiient of mental calculation.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood when the following detailed description is read in connection with `the accompanying drawings, the invention resid-ing in the construction, combi-'natin and arrangement of parts as claimed.

.ln the drawings forming part of this application, like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, and wherein i Figure 'l is a plan view of a playing surface. y

Figure 2 is anenlarged fragmentary view thereof.

Figure 3 is a view showing one card of each of the various suits which make up the deck of cards'. y

Figure 4 a view showing one of the king cards of eachsuit.

Figure 5 is a detail view of the gaine pieces. y

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly to Figure l, it will beY noted that the playing surface is provided with a plurality of routes indicated at A, the routes being identical iii `size and configuration, and connected by diagonally disposed lines at a common point 10 centrally of the playing` surface. This point l() represents a station known as Terminal, which must be arrived at by following a particular route in conformity with prescribed rules of the gaine, and of course the player who first reaches the terminal station is the winner off Athe gaine. c lt will be noted that each route consists of a Yparallelogiam, the sides and ends l1 and l2 respectively constituting the nia-in lines, while leading from theopposed sidesfor main lines vil at particular points vin their length are divergently disposed lines It might here be stated that the playing surface may embody any number of suchroutes, such as two, three or four, depending upon the sise of `the lgame apparat'us, which controls the number of persons who iiiayplay t-lie game. In the present instance, I have shown four of such routes, which of course allows four persons toplaykthe gaine at one time, the routes being distinguished from each other by indicating characters of any preferred form. As illustrated one of these routes is provided with a star, and is known as the star rente, "another with a crescent shaped figure, known as the crescent route, a third known as a diamond route, and a fourth to be known as a globe ioute having corresponding indicating characters.. kEach route is divided intoystations 14 marked from Zero to eighty. These stations are spaced equidistantly apart and arearranged five points 'or intermediate stations apart. These intermediate stations are indicated at 15 but are not marked, the only stations marked being the divisional stations Zero to seventyfive inclusive. The main lines ll and l2 of each route provide for twelve of these stations, while ,the diagonal lines 16 above referred to, which connect the yvarious routes with the terminal station 10 provide for four of such stations, this diagonal line eX- tendingV from the Zero station of each route to the center of the playing surface or terminal sta-tion 10. It will 'be noted that each Vdiagonal line 16 where it joins the main lineis marked 60, thereby constituting the twelfthI station of the route, but the proximity of station 60 to the point marked zero has no particular significance. It will further observed that the division `station 8O above referred to is not so marked because this iii reality constitutes the end of the route or terminal Station above referred to and indicated at 10 in the drawings. Each route further includes the two lines 1T and 18 respectively arranged at one end of the parallelogram, which lines are conuected at station 19. Each of these lines has intermediate station, the intermediate' station of ling 17 being indicated-'at 20,;

while that of' line 18 is indicated at 21. However, the course of any route starts at zero and is continued over the main lines until station 60 is reached fromwvhere the course is pursued over the diagonal line 16 to the terminal station 10,. Moves or progress is recorded by the use or' game pieces 22 which may vary in size and configuration, but Whichare preferably in the nature of disks shown in Figure 5. Each player is provided With tivo of such game pieces which are used alternately, the last one used remaining at a particular station arrived at during the playing of the game until the next game piece is brought into use for advancement or retardment according to the rules covering the play.

The divergent lines 1S extend from certain stations on the main lines, as for instance stations 10, 15, 35 and 15, and each of these divergent lines include five intermediate points or stations as shown. Then again, these divergent lines have different values marked by numerals along side the various lines. For instance the divergent line leading from station has a value of three, the divergent line leading from station having a value of four, the line leading from station having a value of three, While the divergent line leading from station having` a value of four.

The plays are controlled by certain rules to be hereinafter described, and also by the use ot a deck of cards, the deck including titty-tuo cards divided into four suits of thirteen cards each. In other Words there is one suit for each route. and ten cards. of each suit are marked romone to ten, and includes a symbol similar to the designating character for the particular route after which the suitis named. For instance, one suit is provided with a star, another with a diamond, a third with a crescent, and the fourth with a globe, and the cards of each suit from one to ten having a corresponding valuation. The remaining three cards of each suit are called king cards andare also marked with a large symbol in the center, and across Which symbol yis marked a number, such as -15-, a5- and -60'-, it will be also noted that. thersymbols in the center ot' these king cards are larger than the symbols on the remaining cards of each suit. All of which king cards 9,3 having a.

marking value of iour. The entire 13 cards of each suit also have a running value, for instance, the card two is greater than the card one. indicated at 24, in the drawing and so on in consecutive order. The large symbol card is the highest in value. All of the cards also having a second value it they are played in pairs. three of a kind,

or four of a kind, or in runs of three, or in runs of four. These pairs or threes, fours or runs cover the numbering from one through to and including ten. The king cards do not admit of runs but only of pairs, or threes or fours of a kind. The value of a pair is two, three ot' a kind six; four of a kind ten; a run of three is three; and a run of four is four. As above stated, the run cards are limited to the cards 24 numbering from one to ten in each suit, While the king cards 23 numbering three in each suit admitting only of pairs, three of a. kind and four of a kind.

Assuming that a four handed game is being played, the game is played as follows:

The choosing ot' the routes should be optional. The four players take positions at the' side of the table or board opposite the route chosen by them. The ordinary method ot cutting high or low for dealing can be followed out. and tace down to each player until the entire deck of titty tvvo cards has been distributed, each player holding thirteen cards. The cards are then held by the players and played in proper turn. beginning With the player to the left of the dealer around the board to the left, the dealer having the last play. All cards played are placed face up in front of the player playing the card until the four cards have been played, when the four cards will be turned face down or placed to one side, and the second round begun. This Will be continued foreach round ot plays until the thirteen cards of The cards are dealt singly each player. have been tabled, when the dealA i will pass to the next player at the left and the cards dealt over. All cards Will count over the route they symbolize. A card played by a player. the symbol of which is the players oyvn route, will advance that player over his own route to the value of the card played. A card played by a player, the symbol of which is an opponents route, Will setthat opponent back the value of the card played. The diverging lines 13 are of no moment to the player over his own route, for division stations, as intermediate stations are only points on the main route from O to 80: but diverging lines are all important to u an opponent. A player playing a card,`the symbol of which is an opponents 1oute,1nay advance or set back the opponent to a diverging line at stations 10, 15, 35, 4,5, or at the station 19 on the lines 17 and 1S respectively.

An opponent Who ls advanced or set back to station 1() by a player playing a card.

` the symbol of which is the opponents route.

will be further penalized, and will move his peg or marker three stations toward the end of the dverging line; if to station 15, four stations; if to station 35, three stations, and it to station 45, tour stations toward the end ot the diverging line. An opponent so set back will. on his turn to play, advanie by stations to the end ot the diverging line,

titl

and again by stations to the main line, and along the main line, if the Value of his count over his own route warrants. An opponent, who is advance-d or set back to station 60 will be forced to station Q on line 17 An opponent so advanced or set back will, on his next turn to play, advance only one station'ivithout claiming any value by reason ot' the number value ot his card, or bypairs, or runs. He will move to station 19. On his neXt turn to play. he Will move to station 2l. and'ou the nent to station 55, Where he will be ready to progress over the main line. rlfhis honerer, does not prohibit a player, so set back over the line 17, or any ot' the four diyerging lilies, from ignoring the position ot his peg or marker, and playing a card Whose symbol is over an opponents route. An opponent, who is set back and forced along a diverging line, or line 17 is safe trom further setback until he has again reached the main line. But a player playing a card, the symbol of which is an opponents' route with lthe opponent upon a diverging line. or line 17 ycan progress over his own route the value of the card played, but only it such player has run out of cards. the symbol of which is over his own route. This same rule holds good as a protection to a player who has scored ten or less than ten, and no `opponent' can. be set back farther than station 5. even though the player against the opponent holds a Jcardwith value sniieient to set the opponent beyond station 5.. However. the player playing such a `card will advance over his own route to the value of the number of points denied him over the opponents route beyond station limit. A player playing a card to ilorm a pair with the last card played by the player to his right, or three of a. kind. `o r a run ot three, it the player' is the third to play; or four ot a kind. or a run ot Jfour, if the player is the Jfourth to play. the value of such a play will be added to the tace Value of that play- ,ei-s card to constitute khis advancement over his oiynroute, or to advance or set back an opponent, if the card played is the symbol of an opponents route. A player playing a king card over bis own route will progress along any portion of the route to the value ot the card played-face value tour-#totether n'ith any additional value by pairs, three oi? a kind and yfour of a kind. Hoiyever. king' cards can be used aga-inst an opponent only under the following conditions:

A player playing king card f-lfff, the symbol ot which is an opponents route, ,can use it only against an opponent when the opponent is between division station l() and intermediate'station 19; otherwise, if such a card is played it will be tabled with no count. lxfinircard fetos-. under the same conditions, is goed only 'when an opponent esti-.reen division station and @termed-iate station 4:9; and king,- card GO-, when the opponent is between division station and intermediate station 64. A. player playing a king card, the symbol of which is an opponents route, can advance or set back the opponent to the value of the card played; provided, however, the opponent is Vivithin the bounds of the stations, as above set forth. But in no ease .can an opponent be set bark, or advanced by a king card beyond -the limit o'l' the jurisdiction oi the king' card, the limit of which is set forth in the preceding' explanation; nor VWill the player playing the kino' card be allowed to score over bis own route the difference denied him by the limit of his cards jurisdiction; nor with sucha card can he score at all against his opponent, o r adyance over his own route.

All pairs, runs. etc., are from right to left, and cease When the fourth card has been played, it is therefore, important that each player iyatch his opponents route, retarding his progress for his oifvn advancement, for all players are aga-inst the route of an opponent. All cards from one, up to and including' ten, iyhen played against an opponent iyho has passed station 70, will hare a` peggino' yalue of two, but all combinations as pairs, etc. on .Cards from one up ,to and including ten will cease to exist. King cards, which have ceased to score against an opponent outside of the jnrisdiction of theeard, Will Come again into play against the opponent who has passed station '7,0 in value of their combinations, but their face yalue will cease to exist. A player must finish the run and enter the terminal by exact station count.

lVlien three persons play the game it is played as follows:

The players Will ,discard one of the routes, the graine will follow in the same order as in four handed terminal. There can be no four ot a kind, nor a run ot' four. The peg ging will be limited to pairs, three of a kind, and a run of three. together with the face value ot' the card played, as `in 'four handed terminal.

Then two persons play the game, it is played as follows: A

The players will discard tivo of the routes. The game will 'follow in the same order as in a 'tour handed game. Pairs only Will Acount in pegging, together with the face val-ue or" the card played, as in the four handed game.

Draw terminal is played by iour persons, over the main lines only and is played as follows:

The dealer sbuilles the cards and holds the deck facedown. The player to his left draws a card and tables it face up. The score is made over the route symbolized by the Card. Each player draws a card and scores the Afirst player, the dealer being ilo last to draw. A card played, the symbol of which is over the dealers route, advances or retards the dealer twice the value of the card played. lVhen all cards are tabled, the deal passes to the left. The cards played are advancing and retarding in count. 1, 3 and 5 are retarding cards and are of face value; 1 is one, 3 is three and 5 is live. All other cards are advancing cards. Cards from 4 up to and including 10 have each a value of four; king cards -15-, -45- and -60- have each a value of five. No retarding score can be counted beyond station 5. Any such card drawn will be tabled with no count. The terminal must be reached by exact count; otherwise the card drawn will be tabled with no count.

Trick terminal is also played by four persons over the main lines only; and is played as follows:

Three cards are dealt face down to each player until twelve cards are delt. The

thirteenth ciard is turned face up. This1 card constitutes the trump card until twelve cards have been played. The dealer will deal 'the next twelve cards and turn the twenty-sixth card for a new trump, and so on to the fourth deal, when the last card will be the final trump. All of the cards just mentioned, which are turned up after each deal, are used only for the purpose of .determining what the trump shall be and has no other value after the particular hand has been played. VAt the end of the fourth round, the cards go to the next dealer. The

trick. However, if neither card is a trumpV card, no trick is counted. A player taking i a trick, the symbol of which is over an opponents route.Y will score over his own route the value of the card played, and will set such opponentback an equal value. In trick terminal, as in four handed terminal, the terminal must be reached by exact count; otherwise the players cards will be tabled with no count to the player or against an opponent. The pegging value of the cards are the face value from 1 up to and including G, a straight value of three for 7, 8, 9 and 10;and a value of four for all king cards. The trick value of the cards is denoted by the face value in consecutive order from 1 to 10 and through to G0; 2 is greater than 1; 5 is greater than fl; king card is the highest card. All cards throughout the game are tabled in front of the player playing them. Terminal must be reached by exact count; otherwise the card drawn will be tabled with no count.

In skip station terminal; all king cards are discarded. The remaining forty cards are dealt face down, ten cards to each player. Progress along the route will be made by skip stops; that is stations 5, 10, 15, 20 and so on to terminal will be used, intermediate stations and all branch ,lines abandoned. Players will progress one or two stations, or will be set back two stations. The value of the cards played will denote ythe progress or set back. kThe face value of the cards runs in consecutive order, 1 is a value of one, 10 has av value of ten. Immaterial as to symbols, progress is made by single or accumulated values divisible by live, as each player tables his card. Explanatory to this-the first player tables the Q of crescent and does not score, for the single value of his card is not divisible by `five. The second player tables the 3 of star and scores, for the accumulated value of his card, which is five is divisible by live. The third. player tables the 1() of diamonds and scores, for the accumulated value of the card, which is fifteen is divisible by five. The fourth player tables the 10 of star and scores, for the accumulated value of his card, which is twenty-live is divisible by five. The second, third and fourth players cannot claim single values on their cards tabled. The accumulated value reaches its highest count when four cards havebeen played, or one round has been tabled. Each player, whose single or accumulated value is divisible by live, will score one station.

twenty-live will not score more than the player, whose accumulated value is fifteen.

The quotient. is of no moment. Further progress or retardation will be made by tricks. Explantory of this; symbols will not be'considered as having a greater value one over the other. However, a player playing a card, the symbol of which is over his own route, will at the end of the round score two stations, and set his three opponentsback two stations, if he takes the trick. Each player, whether first or fourth to play, must count division values as soon as his card is tabled. inorder that the pegging for the trick will not be confusing should the fourth player take the trick with an accumulated value divisible by live. A count of one, will bc given a player taking a trick with a card, whose symbol is over an opponents route. The player taking the trick, will lead for the next round. .ln cases of tie, no count will be made and the lead remainswith the player last leading. All cards are tabled face up in front of the player playing them. No player can be set lback beyond station 0, nor will a player .forced back Yto O be barred from progressing llll mac/,aie 5 at his turn to play. A player must enter terminal `by exact count. A player` at station 75, who takes a trick with a card whose symbol is over his own route, or the trick is forced on him by the plays o-f the other three players, thereby making his score two, cannot enter terminal. Such a players score will not count, nor will the opponents be set back.

In all the different forms of the game, the cards are tabled in front the player and the terminal must be reached by exact count.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description1 the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent, I desire to have it understood that I Ydo not limit myself to what is herein shown and described and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

l. In a game apparatus, a playing surface having a plurality of geometrical figures thereon, each constituting a route, divisional stations arranged along each route, and equidistantly spaced from each other, intermediate stations arranged between the divisional stations, a terminal station arranged centrally of the playing surface and common to all routes, a single line leading from each route to the terminal station and having a plurality of divisional and intermediate stations thereon, diverging lines leading from the main lines of each route and from predetermined divisional stations, each diverging line having a plurality of intermediate stations and a divisional station at the terminal of said line, game pieces for each route, and a deck of cards each having a different valuation from the remaining cards of the deck, said cards when played controlling the play or movements of the game pieces over the various routes.

2. In a game apparatus, a playing surface provided with a plurality of geometrical figures, each constituting a route, divisional stations arranged along each route and equidistantly spaced apart, intermediate stations arranged between the divisional sta-tions, a terminal station arranged centrally of the playing surface and common to all routes, a

line leading from each route to connect the latter with the terminal station, each of said lines having divisional and intermediate stations, diverging lines leading from each route and from particular divisional sta tions thereon, each of the latter mentioned lines having intermediate stations and a divisional station, a game piece for each route, a deck of cards used for controlling the play or the movements of the game pieces over the various routes, designating characters distinguishing the various routes one from the other, said deck of cards being divided into suits, providing one suit for each route, the cards of each route having designating characters corresponding to the characters of the particular route which it represents, and each suit including ten cards of running valuations, and a series of three cards known as king cards of varying valuations.

3. In a game apparatus, a playing surface having a plurality of parallelograms, each constituting a route, divisional stations ar ranged along the vari-ous sides of each route and equi-distantly spaced apart, a terminal station arranged centrally of the playing surface and common to all routes, diagonal lines leading from particular points on the various routes tothe terminal station connecting the latter with said routes, each of said diagonal line having divisional and intermediate stations, a pair of right angularly disposed lines arranged at one end of each route and in juxtaposition to the diagonal line leading therefrom, a divisional station at the point of juncture of said lines, an intermediate station arranged centrally on each line, diverging lines leading from the opposed sides of each route and from particular divisional stations thereon, each diverging line having a particular valuation, intermediate stations arranged on each diverging line, a main station arranged at the end of said lines, a deck of cards having different valuations to control the play of the game, a game piece adapted to be moved over each route in accordance with the valuation of the card played, and said deck being divided to provide a suit for each of said route, each route and its particular suit of cards having corresponding designating characters to distinguish the same from the remaining routes and suits of the deck.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

Jornv s. Porras. 

